Livonia police make largest seizure of fentanyl in Michigan in Macomb, Wayne home, business

A Clinton Township man is facing charges after Livonia police seized the largest stash of fentanyl in Michigan and one of the largest in the nation at multiple sites March 28 in a case that began with a traffic stop.

About 160,000 pills "would be hitting the streets" if not intercepted at $4.5 million, police said during a news conference Tuesday. The investigation started in September with "a single traffic stop," which resulted in an arrest for a minor violation of narcotics. That stop eventually led to three search warrants and included the confiscation of drugs, drug paraphernalia and money.

Livonia police were investigating Barry Anthony Willis, 55, known as "Blue" to a cooperating individual since September, according to a criminal complaint filed with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on Saturday.

Investigators allege Willis knowingly distributed and possessed controlled substances with the intent to distribute them, according to the complaint.

Officials found $133,242 in suspected drug proceeds alongside other valuables including a handgun, gold chain and 10 watches at Willis' home in Clinton Township, according to the complaint. Officials also found more than 2.6 kilograms of cocaine, more than 41 kilograms of fentanyl in powder and pills, and drug paraphernalia including scales and a pill press at the alleged stash house.

Willis' attorney, Todd Russell Perkins, did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday.

The associate told a Livonia police that Willis was involved with selling and distributing heroin in late September, according to a Detroit Drug Enforcement Administration task force officer's affidavit in the complaint.

The officer and Livonia police arranged for the associate to carry out a controlled buy in late February, where they entered Willis' Jeep Gladiator and purchased suspected heroin with pre-recorded buy funds, according to the complaint.

The suspected heroin tested positive for the presence of fentanyl, according to a kit test performed on the drugs after the exchange. Livonia police followed Willis after the meeting to Littlefield Street in Detroit shortly after, according to the complaint.

The Livonia officer arranged for a second controlled buy with more pre-recorded funds in late March, when police observed Willis execute a hand-to-hand drug transaction along with an exchange with the associate, according to the complaint.

The suspected heroin also tested positive for the presence of fentanyl, according to the complaint.

Livonia police later saw an unknown man also park nearby and allegedly carry out a separate drug transaction, according to the complaint.

Livonia and Clinton police, alongside a DEA officer, executed narcotics search warrants on Thursday at his Clinton Township home, a Citgo gas station and car wash he owned on 13730 Livernois Avenue in Detroit as well as the alleged Littlefield stash house.

Among $18,000 of suspected drug proceeds recovered at the Littlefield location, officials found $400 of pre-recorded buy funds, according to the complaint.

Officials also found $3,053 in suspected drug proceeds and another handgun at the Livernois location, according to the complaint.

Willis' first court appearance was on Monday, records show.

His next court date, a scheduled detention hearing, is on Thursday.